A ward councillor in Malawi’s southern region district of Mulanje was recently roughed up and left unconscious by his electorates who accused him of planning to dupe a public works program meant to benefit poor people by bringing afore ghost workers in his Chambe ward in the district.

The fracas led to the suspension of wages payment to bona fide workers and Councillor Samson Makwinja was left unconscious following heavy beating he underwent.

Close to 400 people were engaged in public works programme under the Local Development Fund in afforestation, sanitation and land resources and conservation at Thuchira upper land and Kambenje market in Chambe ward in a second phase.

After completion of their work, Friday was a pay day and when officials from Mulanje district council went to pay beneficiaries of wages, misunderstandings emerged between Councillor Makwinja and village headmen Chole, Kambenje and Matanya and their subjects.

The chiefs and their subjects accused councillors Makwinja of bringing in ghost workers to receive wages instead of bonafide workers with allegations that he brought over 20 ghost workers, some from Phalombe district.

The misunderstandings resulted in chaos and some angry villagers beat up the councillor with chairs and he was left unconscious and was taken to Kambenje health centre where he was treated as outpatient.

Councillor Makwinja in an interview said it was him who was accusing the chiefs of bringing ghost workers and was trying to cross check the syndicate and in the process was beaten and that he sustained some injuries on the head, arm and chest during the beating and he said the matter was reported to Chambe Police
Unit.

“I was severely beaten by some villagers and i sustained some injuries on the head, arm and chest and I was treated as an out-patient at Kambenje Health Centre. I reported the matter to Chambe Police Unit,” said councillor Makwinja.

Police in Mulanje confirmed having received a complaint from the councillor and according to Mulanje Police Station Officer Senior Superintendent David Somanje, the matter is under investigations.

Meanwhile Chairperson of Mulanje District Council councillor Manuel Bambala says he has heard about the beating of a fellow councillor and he said he is investigating the matter.

District Commissioner Mr. Jack Nguluwe said in an interview that they are waiting for the misunderstandings between the councillor and the chiefs to be sorted out before they pay the beneficiaries their wages.